The unit provides IT solutions for various research tasks, including modelling, information provision and European forest mapping. The unit has an ability to provide/develop IT solutions for foresight studies as well.
The IT solutions in research tasks include development, establishing and maintaining of Model-Data interfaces, establishing Data Warehouses for research purposes, creating the IT environments for research development teams and bringing modern IT methods to the development of research-oriented software. These activities are carried out in strong cooperation with other units and Regional Offices. The information provision means, for example, establishing web-based systems which allow data mining features for the research community and give researchers the ability to open the results of their research to a wide range of public users.
Making use of existing European datasets and databases, spatial analysis is used to derive maps and information on themes like forest area, tree species, growing stock, biomass, carbon, forest accessibility, bioenergy constraints, biodiversity impacts. The unit also coordinates EFI’s information function.
The unit’s workplan highlights the following main themes related to Research-oriented IT and spatial analysis:
- Forest Map of Europe
- Pan-European Tree Species Maps
- EFISCEN development in strong collaboration with the Sustainability and Climate Change Programme and Alterra
- ToSIA development together with the Sustainability and Climate Change Programme
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